France Denies Interfering with Conclave to Elect French Pope
World France Denies Interfering with Conclave to Elect French Pope
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline;. May 7, 2025 in the Vatican, before the conclave begins to elect the successor of Pope Francis
AP
The French government has denied allegations in Italian media that President Emmanuel Macron attempted to sway the ongoing process to select a French pope.
Several daily Italian newspapers reviewed by RTL radio published allegations that Macron had made informal overtures to cardinals, encouraging support for Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, the Archbishop of Marseille, as a potential successor to Pope Francis
But when the European broadcaster put this to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, he rubbished the claims as "fake news."
Why It Matters
The suggestion that a sitting French president could attempt to influence a papal election contradicts France's long-standing policy of strict separation between church and state.
Any perception of state involvement in religious processes risks not only domestic backlash but also diplomatic strain with the Holy See.
What To Know
Some of the headlines published in newspapers such as La Verità, Il Tempo, and Libero included the likes of: "Macron also wants to choose the Pope," "Macron invites himself to the conclave" and "An interventionism worthy of a modern Sun King," according to a translation by RTL radio.
When Barrot was asked if Paris is running a "discreet campaign" to get a French pope elected, he answered: "We are paying close attention … But we are not interfering in any way."
He went on to say that if French cardinals were asked about this they would confirm that "they are not taking any voting instructions," according to a translation from CatholicVote.
There are currently four French cardinals who will vote during the conclave, that began on Wednesday: Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille; François-Xavier Bustillo, Bishop of Ajaccio; Philippe Barbarin, former Archbishop of Lyon; Christophe Pierre, currently stationed in Washington.
On top of Barrot's denial, the French Embassy in Italy issued a rejection of the allegations on X.
It posted a screengrab of an Italian newspaper report with the French word for "false" plastered over it.
What People Are Saying
French Ambassador to Italy Martin Briens posted a screengrab of an Italian newspaper's story and wrote on X: "By having lunch with the French cardinals, the President of the Republic (Macron) complied with the republican customs in force and respected by his predecessors after the funeral of a Pope. This manipulation of information is not dignified."
What Happens Next
The College of Cardinals has convened in Vatican City to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21, at the age of 88. The conclave was set to begin officially on the afternoon of May 7, with 133 cardinal electors sequestered in the Sistine Chapel under strict secrecy protocols.
If no pope is elected within three days, the cardinals will take a day of reflection before resuming the process.
While a pope can theoretically be elected in the first round, this has not occurred in centuries.
Modern conclaves often last between one and five days, depending on how quickly consensus can be reached. The most recent, in 2013, elected Francis on the second day. The world awaits smoke signals from the Vatican as the voting progresses.
Related Articles
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
9 minutes ago
- The Hill
Israel and Iran trade airstrikes for a third day as hundreds reported dead
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israel claimed to operate almost freely in the skies over Iran during a third day of airstrikes Sunday and killed more high-ranking security figures, while some Iranian missiles slipped through Israel's air defenses. Both sides threatened to launch more attacks. In an indication of how far Israel was prepared to go amid fears of all-out war, a U.S. official told The Associated Press that President Donald Trump in recent days vetoed an Israeli plan to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian Health Ministry said late Sunday that 224 people have been killed since Israel's attack began Friday. Spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said on social media that 1,277 other people were hospitalized. He asserted that more than 90% of the casualties were civilians. The paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls Iran's arsenal of ballistic missiles, said intelligence chief Gen. Mohammad Kazemi and two other generals were the latest killed, Iran's state TV reported Sunday night. Israel's attacks have killed several top generals and nuclear scientists. Iran also said Israel struck two oil refineries, raising the prospect of a broader assault on Iran's heavily sanctioned energy industry that could affect global markets. Israel's military warned Iranians to evacuate arms factories, signaling a further widening of the campaign. Iran's military, on state TV, warned Israelis to stay away from 'occupied' areas. Israel, the sole though undeclared nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, has said it launched the attack — its most powerful ever against Iran — to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The two countries have been adversaries for decades. The latest U.S.-Iran talks on its nuclear program were canceled. Explosions shook the Iranian capital of Tehran. Sirens went off in Israel. The Israeli military noted 'several hit sites' Sunday night, including in Haifa in the north, and the Magen David Adom emergency service said it treated nine injured people. Israel said 14 people have been killed there since Friday and 390 wounded. Iran has fired over 270 missiles, 22 of which got through the country's sophisticated multi-tiered air defenses, according to Israeli figures. Israel's main international airport and airspace was closed for a third day. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said if Israel's strikes on Iran stop, then 'our responses will also stop.' Iran's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, criticized the United States for supporting Israel and said 'the responses will be more decisive and severe' if Israel keeps attacking, state TV reported. Trump said the U.S. 'had nothing to do with the attack' and that Iran can avoid further destruction only by agreeing to a new nuclear deal. Photos shared by Iran's ISNA News Agency showed bloodied people being helped from the scene of Israeli strikes in downtown Tehran. One man carried a blood-spattered girl. Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Israel hit a Foreign Ministry building in the north of Tehran, with several civilians injured 'including a number of my colleagues,' Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported. Israeli strikes also targeted Iran's Defense Ministry after hitting air defenses, military bases and sites associated with its nuclear program. On Sunday night, Israel said it struck 'numerous' sites across Iran that produce missile and air defense components. Israel also claimed it attacked an Iranian refueling aircraft in Mashhad in the northeast, calling it the farthest strike the military had carried out. Iran did not immediately acknowledge any attack. Video obtained and verified by the AP showed smoke rising from the city. Iran's foreign minister said Israel targeted an oil refinery near Tehran and another in a province on the Persian Gulf. State television reported that metro stations and mosques would be made available as bomb shelters beginning Sunday night. Earlier Sunday in Israel, at least six people, including a 10-year-old and a 9-year-old, were killed when a missile hit an apartment building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv. Daniel Hadad, a local police commander, said 180 people were wounded and seven were missing. Another four people, including a 13-year-old, were killed and 24 wounded when a missile struck a building in the Arab town of Tamra in northern Israel. A strike on the central city of Rehovot wounded 42. The Weizmann Institute of Science, an important center for military and other research in Rehovot, reported 'a number of hits to buildings on the campus' and said no one was harmed. An oil refinery was damaged in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, according to the firm operating it, which said no one was wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brushed off urgent calls by world leaders to deescalate. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, he said regime change in Iran 'could certainly be the result' of the conflict. He also claimed, without giving evidence, that Israeli intelligence indicated Iran intended to give nuclear weapons to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Iran has always said its nuclear program was peaceful, and the U.S. and others have assessed that it has not pursued a weapon since 2003. But Iran has enriched ever larger stockpiles of uranium to near weapons-grade levels in recent years and was believed to have the capacity to develop multiple weapons within months if it chose to do so. The U.N.'s atomic watchdog issued a rare censure of Iran last week. A senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive nuclear talks, said Washington remained committed to them and hoped the Iranians would return to the table. The region is already on edge as Israel seeks to annihilate Hamas, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, where war still rages after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack. In a social media post, Trump warned Iran that any retaliation directed against it would bring an American response 'at levels never seen before.' In Iran, satellite photos analyzed by AP show extensive damage at Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz. The images shot Saturday by Planet Labs PBC show multiple buildings damaged or destroyed. The structures hit include buildings identified by experts as supplying power to the facility. U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi told the Security Council that the above-ground section of the Natanz facility was destroyed. The main centrifuge facility underground did not appear to be hit, but the loss of power could have damaged infrastructure there, he said. Israel also struck a nuclear research facility in Isfahan. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, said four 'critical buildings' were damaged, including Isfahan's uranium-conversion facility. The IAEA said there was no sign of increased radiation at Natanz or Isfahan. An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity Sunday in line with official procedures, said it would take 'many months, maybe more' to restore the two sites. ___ Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel, and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran; Aamer Madhani in Washington; Sam Mednick and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Julia Frankel in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
Business Insider
24 minutes ago
- Business Insider
Denmark allocates millions of dollars to attract African students in strategic immigration program
According to LocalDenmark, the Nordic country aims to host 230 African students annually for the next eight years, primarily to foster deeper cultural and diplomatic integrations. As stated by its Foreign Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, " It's clearly in our interest that African countries look towards Europe when considering their future paths. With this new program, we're not just investing in education, but in relationships that build a vital bridge between Denmark and Africa." The program is also expected to strengthen ties between Danish and African universities, promoting knowledge exchange and collaborative research initiatives. Meanwhile, some 430 million Danish kroner ($61 million) has been allocated since 2024 to support this initiative, underscoring Denmark's commitment to its pro-Africa immigration policy and strategy. This move by Denmark is part of a broader European effort to maintain relevance and influence in Africa, amid growing competition from China and Russia, particularly as the US continues to enforce strict immigration policies targeting African migrants. According to Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund, " Africa has enormous potential, which we can help unlock through education. By 2050, a third of the world's youth will live in Africa, and the continent's geopolitical importance is growing rapidly." In return, Denmark also hopes to see more of its own students pursuing studies and exchange programmes in African institutions. ' There's immense potential in Africa. Education is a two-way bridge, ' Løkke said The scholarship provides comprehensive support, covering tuition fees, living expenses, and potentially including travel assistance. Successful applicants may also be eligible to participate in the EU's Erasmus+ program, offering additional exchange opportunities. Denmark's Africa strategy Denmark is known for having some of the strictest immigration policies in Europe, with conditions growing increasingly rigid since the 1990s. While this tough approach has achieved its intended effects, it has also introduced new challenges. During a visit to Ghana last year, Denmark's Foreign Minister and former Prime Minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen hinted at a shift in immigration policy. He framed the change as a way to safeguard Denmark's core interests, noting that Europe is shrinking—not just in population, but also in its share of the global economy. This perspective is central to the Danish government's new Africa strategy, unveiled on 26 August 2024. The strategy focuses on deepening ties with African nations through expanded trade, investment, and educational exchanges. One of its key goals is to attract top talent from Africa to pursue education in Denmark, thereby fostering a network with long-term political and economic benefits for the country. For many African students, this initiative offers a gateway to high-quality education in Europe, while also fostering stronger partnerships in areas such as science, technology, innovation, governance, and sustainable development between Africa and Denmark.
Los Angeles Times
39 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
Macron visits Greenland to show European support for Danish territory coveted by Trump
NUUK, Greenland — French President Emmanuel Macron landed Sunday in Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory coveted by President Trump, carrying a 'message of solidarity and friendship' from France and the European Union. Macron reiterated his criticism of Trump's intention to take control of the strategic Arctic island. 'I don't think that's something to be done between allies,' he said as he was greeted at the Nuuk airport by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. 'It's important to show that Denmark and Europe are committed to this territory, which has very high strategic stakes and whose territorial integrity must be respected,' Macron said. He was making a stop on his way a summit of the Group of 7 leading industrialized nations in Canada that Trump will also attend. Macron, who is visiting Greenland for the first time, said that 'it means a lot to me ... to convey a message of friendship and solidarity from France and the European Union to help this territory face the different challenges: economic development, education, as well as the consequences of climate change.' In a speech last week at the U.N. Ocean Conference, Macron also mentioned Greenland and the deep seas, saying they are not 'up for grabs' in remarks that appeared directed largely at Trump. Macron in recent months has sought to reinvigorate France's role as the diplomatic and economic heavyweight of the 27-nation European Union. The French president has positioned himself as a leader in Europe amid Trump's threats to pull support from Ukraine as it fights against Russia's invasion. Macron hosted a summit in Paris with other European heads of state to discuss Kyiv, as well as security issues on the continent. Sunday's visit will also be the occasion to discuss how to further enhance relations between the EU and Greenland when it comes to economic development, low-carbon energy transition and critical minerals. The leaders will also have exchanges on efforts to curb global warming, according to Macron's office. Later Sunday, Macron, Frederiksen and Nielsen held a meeting on a Danish helicopter carrier, showing France's concerns over security issues in the region. Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and the Panama Canal by force if necessary but refused to answer repeated questions during a hotly combative congressional hearing Thursday about his use of Signal chats to discuss highly sensitive military operations. Hegseth's comments were the latest controversial remarks made by a member of the Trump administration about Greenland, the world's largest island. Trump has said he won't rule out military force to take over Greenland, which he considers vital to American security in the high north. The Wall Street Journal last month reported that several high-ranking officials under the U.S. director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, had directed intelligence agency heads to learn more about Greenland's independence movement and sentiment about U.S. resource extraction there. Nielsen in April said that U.S. statements about the island have been disrespectful and that Greenland 'will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.' Associated Press writers Ha and Corbet reported from Nuuk and Paris, respectively. AP writer Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report.
